~Alisa~

_ You're just like candy, cause you're sweet and yet you give me a toothache _
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I was fast asleep, exhausted by literally everything life had placed before me. All I pleaded for, was to be left alone, but that came shattering to pieces the minute I heard a knock on my bedroom door.

Is it now a sin to want to sleep? God, what kind of world is this one?

I grumbled, and got out of bed. I grudgingly headed to the door and groggily pulled it open.

"What do you...?" My words got lost in my throat, the minute my eyes finally recognised the face of the person standing right outside my room.

"Can I come in? Please?" She said, and I managed a deep breath and nodded my head in reply. I slowly moved out of the way, and she walked in. Slowly, I shut the door behind me and went to sit on my bed.

Things were already getting awkward pretty fast.

"Alisa... I... I don't want to believe that I was wrong by being so upset with you, but I was. And as much as I hate to admit it, I was..." She heaved a long sigh and finally came to sit next to me on my bed. "I really hate apologising to anyone, but I'll make an exception today. I'm so sorry for how I treated you. I overreacted, but it was because I felt so betrayed by what you did, and I'm so sorry for acting the way I did" she said and I simply smiled at her. What was I to do? Stay mad at a person whom I was literally living at their mercy? No. Even if I wanted to stay mad at her, I just had no choice because I didn't want to leave this house. I wanted to stay for as long I could.

"You're forgiven, Kambili. I'm not mad at you" I said, rather drily.

"I get the feeling that you're only saying that cause you're feeling obliged to" she said and I forced a big smile out of me.

"Not at all. I'm just happy you're no longer mad at me" I said and she simply nodded her head and remained seated on my bed.

"Christian told me about how my words made you feel. He told me you began to sound like a sadist, and I can't even explain how sorry I am for that. I didn't mean to paint that kind of image of myself in your head. I'm really sorry that I did" she said and I basically heaved a sigh and let out a genuine smile.

"Kambili, you coming to apologise is enough for me. It's best we bury the hatchet... It'll be best for us both" I told her, and she let my words sink in and nodded in response. "Besides, I'm no longer hurt by those words. I've heard worse, so I'm used to it. There's no need for you to feel so guilty" I added and I could still tell she felt extremely guilty.

"No, Alisa. I need to make this up to you. Anything you want, your bills are on me" Did she really think that that was what I wanted?

"Kambili, that is very unnecessary. Sisters don't do that" I dared to say. Was I still permitted to call her my sister?

"Yeah... Too bad I'm a horrible sister" she meant to mutter that, I presumed, although I heard every word she'd said. I didn't say anything contrary to what she had said, not because she was right about being a 'horrible sister', but because I didn't want to debate on the topic with her. I still felt a little sleepy and needed to rest.

"So please tell me all what has been going on in your school. I'm curious" Kambili's expression suddenly perked up, and she grinned at me.

"Uh, school? It's just same ole boring hellhole. No biggie" I shrugged.

A hellhole filled with too many demons, whom I can't even count.

"And I hear a certain fool bullies you" she snorted and I gasped, in mock shock.

"No one bullies me! Instead, I do the bullying" I said and she rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, right. Defender of the defenseless" she muttered. "Yewande Ronalds, is a popular idiotic spoilt brat over here. I remember us being kind of friends back in Primary school. But now? Now, we're just acquaintances... I guess" she shrugged again and I basically hissed. The thought of hearing his name sickened me, and the thought of what he had done to Dabere made it even worse.

"I don't like him" I blurted.

"No one does. Even his so-called friends don't even like him, they're just managing him in order to get through to the popularity ladder. He's a loner, and in sure he knows it too" she said and I knew that she was right about that.

"I thought as much"

Kambili sighed. "He used to be friends with Kamsi and Chris... Although he's still friends with Chris, he's no longer friends with Kamsi" she added, and I watched as the gloomy shield came back to her face.

To ease the rising tension, I decided to speak up. "Why?"

"Kamsi started giving everyone attitude. His friends couldn't stand it, barely anyone could so he just kind of... Kind of got isolated. He has no friends" she said, and I knew talking about him was really making her sad. I decided to change the topic.

"What about you? How's your school like?" I said.

"Trying to change the topic, I see" she grinned and I rolled my eyes. "But it's okay. I've gotten used to the fact that this is how he is now. I just have to learn to accept things for the way they are" she said and I instantly felt that pang of guilt once again.

I still wish Kamsi hadn't left.

"You miss him" I said, more like a conclusion than a question.

"Yes... I miss the old him too. The goofy, crazy boy that'll always make me laugh and smile, cry and scream and even pull my hair in annoyance, yet make me feel happy and safe. It seems like the minute my mom died, the real him died as well. He was so close to her, and that broke him... But mostly because he—" a loud knock on the door cut her off, and we both stopped talking to know who it was.

"Who's there?" I asked.

"Amara" the sound of the maid was heard.

"Come in" the door soon came open, and the plump, dark skinned maid came into view.

"Kamsi is back" she smiled directly at Kambili as she made this announcement.

"Wh- what?" Kambili whispered to herself, still in shock.

"And that's not all," Amara started. "He brought company" she added, and Kambili and I exchanged glances and walked out of the room, in haste.

* * *

The minute Kambili and I got to the living room downstairs, our jaws dropped. Kamsi, along with two elderly couple - whom I presumed to be his grandparents - were seated on the couch. Kamsi had his legs crossed recklessly on the table, and his arms were crossed as well and his usual cold expression was sewn to his face. It surprised me, how much I was happy that he was here. Back home once again.

Was he? Or was he simply visiting?

I expected that he would be a little excited, at least, but he seemed to want nothing to do with this house or the people in it. He looked like he was forced, and perhaps dragged by his grandparents, down here. And I couldn't blame him for that, not even if I wanted to.

"Kamsi!" Kambili squealed. "Grandma! Grandpa!" She continued, and rushed over to meet them. Her hands wrapped around an unmoved Kamsi, although something changed. Kamsi felt something when she hugged him, and that made me realize that he did miss his sister. I could've sworn I saw a part of his lips twitch, like he was fighting the urge to smile at her. And he even shocked me even further, when he slowly wrapped his hand around her too.

This boy still loves his sister.

I knew Kambili was shocked when he did that too, but she didn't let go, not until she heard the sound of her parents' footsteps approaching from the stairs area. Finally, she rushed over to hug her grandparents.

"Nwam, how are you?" Her grandma gushed, and placed a peck on her cheek.
["My child, how are you?"].

"I'm fine, granny" Kambili grinned, and laid her head on her grandma's shoulder. The elderly woman, who shared almost the same facial features with Mr. Ekwegh, smiled at her and held her closely to her.

"Ada m, you're looking really lovely" Her grandpa was the next to compliment and Kambili smiled at him and went over to hug him. A part of me felt like I was invading their private moment and it would be better to just walk upstairs, and act like I hadn't seen them in the first place.
["My daughter, you're looking lovely"].

And that was why, after greeting them, I made my way up the stairs. "Is she the one your parents adopted?" I heard their grandma ask, as I headed for the stairs.

"Yes" Kambili replied, but I was already on my way to my room.

"So she's the reason why your father sent Kamsi away? Eh kwa?" That was their grandma's voice. I wasn't surprised and neither was I hurt by her question. I knew I had no bad intentions, and I never asked for anyone to get Kamsi sent out of the house. I chose to ignore them instead. I chose to ignore her words.
["So she's the reason why your father sent Kamsi away? Right?"].

"No, granny" Kambili's voice came. I walked up the stairs, and hid behind a large pillar by the railings, because I really wanted to know what they wanted to discuss. Was Kamsi finally back? Was something wrong? I needed to know.

From the pillar, I heard grandma laugh at something Kambili had said. Meanwhile, Kamsi had his legs still on the table, and his arms were still crossed. His eyes roamed lazily on the walls, and I almost squealed, when his eyes finally wandered towards the pillar I was hiding at, with my head slowly poking towards their direction. His eyes met mine, and I felt my heart skip beats as I immediately hid behind the pillar once more. He saw me, and I knew he did.

And because I didn't want anyone embarrassing me for no reason, I finally decided to flee to my bedroom.

"I do not want to stay here," out of a sudden, Kamsi finally spoke. I stopped walking towards my room, curious to know what he wanted to say. "I only came here cause you forced me, grandma" he added, and I heard grandma Ekwegh's gasp.

"Don't say that, nwam. This is your house, and you belong here" she said, and I slowly walked back to the pillar, and positioned my ears to their direction. I was aware that what I was doing was wrong, by eavesdropping on their conversation... But I couldn't help it cause I wanted to hear for myself, what was actually going on.

"No it's not. It stopped being my house the minute your son kicked me out" I was amazed at Kamsi's tone. It was calm, yet held its usual bitterness. Still, I was even more amazed, at the fact that he had referred to Mr. Ekwegh as 'your son'. Did he hate his father that much?

"Don't say that again oh!" Grandpa Ekwegh warned. "Ekwuzina ifa ozo" he said, and I could hear Kamsi's audible scoff.
["Don't say it again"].

"Why shouldn't I? I'm only speaking the truth, and I'm sure my so-called father knows it too. He made his point clear, when he dragged me out of the house and sent me over to live with you and grandma. And now? He is dead to me" that was so harsh to listen to. I didn't even know when a gasp escaped my lips and I slapped my palm over my mouth, hoping that no one heard. How could Kamsi have said that?

"Kamsi!" Grandma Ekwegh cautioned, and I watched as Kambili sat beside her and rubbed her back.

Kamsi looked unaffected by anything that was going on. He simply sat there, his hands still folded, as he stared at nothing in particular.

"He is your father. No matter what he did to you, you owe him that respect. Don't you have fear for him?" Grandpa Ekwegh asked and Kamsi remained silent.

"Dad, it's- um, just ignore his words" Mr. Ekwegh finally spoke up. Kamsi still didn't flinch, nor did he care.

"He is staying with you guys. Peter, you cannot  abandon your son, just like that, with us at this age. He feels like you've rejected him, hence: the reason for his words. And no, I'm not supporting his words, but I still get his anger. You shouldn't have sent him away" Grandma Ekwegh said, and I could hear her heave a sigh.

"Kamsi, nwam" she beckoned, yet Kamsi refused to listen. He ignored her. "Nwam, please apologise to your father. He made a mistake, and he's sorry for it. Aren't you, Peter?" She said, and I heard Kamsi's snort.

"He can't even apologise with his own mouth... As expected" Kamsi snorted again. "Typical" he added, shortly after.

"He's —"

"Granny, I'll be in the car" Kamsi cut in, ready to get up. Kambili hurriedly sprang up from the couch, and reached for his hand and held him back.

"Please don't go" she begged. Kamsi refused looking at her, although I knew he was hurt when he saw her get teary-eyed. "If you must go, then I'm coming with" she said, not bothering to wipe away her tears.

Still, Kamsi did nothing. He didn't even utter a word to her, nor did he flinch. He simply stood there, like a statue.

"Kamsi... Please," she continued begging. And I was surprised to see Kamsi shut his eyes. His chest went up and down, without an even pace, and Kambili's tears ran down her cheeks recklessly. "Please" she begged him again.

He still didn't move. His eyes remained shut. "Kamsi, it's me that is begging you. When we were just kids, you used to make sure I never cried. Whenever I cry, you'd cry too. You would hit anyone who made me upset, and here I am begging you to stay here with me. I miss my brother who used to care about me, and I miss mom too. Don't you think that I feel lonely as well? It feels like I lost two people that day... Why? Please don't tell me the real you died along with mom... Please" and she sobbed. Grandma Ekwegh had pity written on her face, and she walked towards Kambili and held her close to her chest. She hugged so close, and rubbed her back.

Kamsi still stood where he was, his eyes were still shut as well. And — were those tears? Kamsi had tears in his eyes!

"Nwam, biko. Don't do this to your sister. If you won't stay here because of your father, then at least do it for your sister. Can't you see she's hurting too? All this is also hurting her too... Please consider her feelings as well" Grandma Ekwegh said, still hugging a sobbing Kambili.
["My child, please..."].

The room was eerily quiet now. It was pin-drop quiet, and all eyes were fixed on Kamsi's unmoving figure. His eyes still hadn't come open, and his fists were clenched really tight.
Kambili sobbed, and Grandma Ekwegh still rubbed her back to keep her from crying any further.

Moments passed, still Kamsi didn't say or do anything. Mr. Ekwegh sighed, and Mrs. Ekwegh lowered her head in pity. "Bikonu" grandma Ekwegh urged, and Kambili finally withdrew from her grandma's embrace.
["Please"].

After what felt like hours, Kamsi finally opened his eyes and his tears dropped to the floor. He reached for the ones rolling off his cheeks, and wiped them away, and I found myself feeling so sad about all that was going on. Kambili had sadness in her eyes, and she stared at him like she was going to pass out if he took a step forward and walked out that door. She looked like she would commit suicide if he didn't stay right here. And I was afraid he was going to walk away, and I was sure everyone else was too.

But he didn't.

He turned around, and took each and everyone of us by surprise. He drew his sister close to him, and hugged her. His tears rolled down his cheeks and I was aware Kambili was still in utmost shock. We all were.

He wrapped his hands around her and his tears trickled down from his eyes and onto her shoulders. Kambili, after getting out from the shocked state she was in, hugged him back and sobbed. Was this really happening? Was Kamsi actually hugging his sister? Was this the same Kamsi?

"I'm sorry" I read his lips, as he muttered it into her ears. "But I can't stay here," he said again, and I knew right then, that Kambili wouldn't take it.

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Hey, hey, hey! Who needs a tissue?😢
I do tho. I almost shed actual tears when Kamsi said those last words.

Anticipate, cause there's a shocking news waiting for you in the next few chapters. Also, what do you guys think? Will Kamsi leave? Or will he stay? I'm actually missing Kamsi oh... I miss him. What about you guys? Do you guys miss him?

Please don't forget to support this tired writer by voting and commenting. Seriously, joggling schoolwork and Wattpad is really stressful... So please encourage me with a comment, and a vote too☺️
Love you guys!❤️

Next update: Friday❤️
Bye!❤️